MODEL-BASED EGRESS SUPPORT SYSTEM

• US 20120276517A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Banaszuk, Andrzej, Narayanan, Satish, Tomastik, Robert N., Hariharan, Nathan S., Shishkin, Sergey, LaBarre, Robert E., Detriche, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 9,109,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/365
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3446 Details of route searching algorithms, e.g. Dijkstra, A*, arc-flags, using precalculated routes

Abstract

A model-based egress support system (10) employs models to generate an optimal egress route for occupants in a region. The system includes an egress controller (16) that is connected to receive detection data. The egress controller (16) executes an optimization algorithm (22) to select an egress route based on model-based egress estimates generated by an egress prediction model (18) in response to the detection data.

Claims

1. An egress support system comprising:

an input operably connected to receive occupant detection data, threat detection data, or a combination thereof;

an egress controller operably connected to the input and including an optimization algorithm and a prediction model, wherein the egress controller executes the optimization algorithm to select an optimal egress route based on model-based estimates generated by the prediction model in response to the detection data; and

an output operably connected to communicate the optimal egress route selected by the optimization algorithm.

2. The egress support system of claim 1, wherein the prediction model is an egress prediction model that generates model-based egress estimates predicting occupant egress based on the occupant location data and a plurality of potential egress routes.

3. The egress support model of claim 2, wherein the optimization algorithm selects the optimal egress route based on the model-based egress estimate that minimizes a time required to evacuate all occupants.

4. The egress support system of claim 1, wherein the prediction model is a threat prediction model that generates a model-based threat estimate that predicts threat propagation based on the threat location data, and wherein the optimization algorithm selects the optimal egress route based on the model-based threat estimate to minimize occupant exposure to the threat.

5. The egress support system of claim 1, further including:

an occupancy estimator operably connected to the input, the occupancy estimator executes an occupancy estimation algorithm that generates an occupancy estimate based on the received occupant location data and a model-based occupancy estimate generated by an occupant traffic model, wherein the occupancy estimate is provided to the egress controller.

6. The egress support system of claim 5, wherein the occupant traffic model is dynamically modified by the egress controller based on the optimal egress route selected by the optimization algorithm.

7. The egress support system of claim 1, further including:

a threat propagation estimator operably connected to the input, the threat propagation estimator executes a threat propagation algorithm that generates a threat propagation estimate based on the received threat location data and a model-based threat propagation estimate generated by a threat propagation model, wherein the threat propagation estimate is provided to the egress controller.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the output is operably connected to provide control instructions generated by the egress controller based on the selected egress route to occupant-based egress instructional devices that direct occupants along the selected egress route.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupant-based egress instructional devices include visual signs, auditory devices, or a combination of both.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the output is operably connected to provide the optimal egress route, the occupant location data, and the threat location data to a first responder device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the output is operably connected to communicate building controller instructions generated by the egress controller in response to the threat detection data and the optimal egress route to a building controller,

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the building controller controls the operation of elevators located within the region based on the building controller instructions provided by the egress controller.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the building controller controls the operation of heating, venting, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems located within the region based on the building controller instructions provided by the egress controller.

14. A method of providing egress support to a region, the method comprising:

acquiring detection data from one or more devices, wherein the detection data is occupant detection data, threat detection data, or a combination thereof;

generating a model-based estimate based on a predictive model and the detection data;

selecting an optimal egress route for occupants within the region based on the model-based estimates; and

controlling one or more egress instructional devices based on the selected optimal egress route to instruct the movement of occupants within the region.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the model-based estimate includes generating model-based egress estimates based on an egress prediction model, a plurality of possible egress routes, and the occupant detection data, wherein each model-based egress estimate includes an estimated time to evacuate occupants based on one of the plurality of possible egress scenarios, and wherein selecting an optimal egress route includes selecting one of the plurality of possible egress routes based on the model-based egress estimate that minimizes the estimated time to evacuate the occupants.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the model-based estimate include generating model-based threat prediction estimates based on a threat prediction model and the threat detection data, and wherein selecting an optimal egress route includes selecting an egress route that minimizes occupant exposure to a detected threat based on the model-based threat prediction estimate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the model-based estimated further includes generating a model-based threat prediction estimate based on a threat prediction model, and wherein selecting an optimal egress route includes selecting an egress route that minimizes the estimated time to evacuate the occupants and minimizes occupant exposure to a detected threat based on the model-based threat prediction estimate.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling one or more egress instructional devices includes controlling auditory devices and visual devices to communicate the selected egress route to occupants within the region.

19. An egress controller comprising:

means for acquiring occupant location data from one or more occupant detection devices;

means for acquiring threat location data from one or more threat detection devices;

means for generating model-based egress estimates based on an egress prediction model, the occupant location data, and an egress route;

means for selecting an optimal egress route for occupants within the region based on the model-based egress estimates generated with respect to a plurality of egress routes, the occupant location data, and the threat location data; and

means for providing based on the selected egress route, instructions for movement of occupants within the region.

20. The egress controller of claim 19, wherein the means for selecting an optimal egress route is an optimization algorithm that causes the means for generating model-based egress estimates to generated a plurality of model-based egress estimates based on egress routes provided by the optimization algorithm.

21. The egress controller of claim 20, wherein the model-based egress estimates include time data describing with respect to each model-based egress estimate the time required for all occupants to evacuate a region;

and the means for selecting an optimal egress route selects an egress route based on the time data to minimize the time required to evacuate all occupants.

22. The egress controller of claim 21, wherein the means for selecting the optimal egress route selects an egress route based on the threat location data to minimize occupant exposure to a detected threat.

23. The egress controller of claim 19, wherein the means for acquiring occupant location data includes:

an occupancy estimator that generates an occupant estimate based on the occupant location data and a model-based occupant estimate generated by an occupant estimation model, wherein the model-based egress estimates are generated based on the occupant estimate.

24. The egress controller of claim 19, wherein the means for acquiring threat location data includes:

a threat propagation estimator that generates a threat propagation estimate based on the threat location data and a model-based threat propagation estimate generated by a threat propagation mode, wherein the optimal egress route is selected based on the threat propagation estimate.

25. A computer readable storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for selecting an optimal egress route for a region, the computer readable storage medium including instructions for causing a controller to implement a method comprising:

acquiring detection data from one or more detection devices, wherein the detection data is occupant detection data, threat detection data, or a combination thereof;

generating model-based estimates based on a prediction model and the detection data; and

selecting an optimal egress route for occupants within the region based on the model-based estimates.